When the nation’s anti-nuclear campaign started about two decades ago, the fight was mostly carried out by environmental and social activist groups, with guidance from the Democratic Progressive Party.
However, more recently, young people have become more involved in the movement, as evidenced by the many young people — including hip hop dancers, bands and DJs — who took part in yesterday’s anti-nuclear demonstrations.
Thanks to their youthful energy and enthusiasm, the young people added a different kind of atmosphere from past anti-nuclear protests, with dancing and live music featuring heavily.
Photo: Liao Yao-tung, Taipei Times
Peng Ying-lun (彭英倫),who played the leading role in Hip-Hop Storm, a Taiwanese documentary about the street dance movement, put out a call to arms for yesterday’s march in Taipei, and invited members of the Chinese Taipei Street Dance Association to take part.
They choreographed an anti-nuclear routine incorporating elements of hip-hop and other street dances, and performed at the march.
The dancers in the performance took on the roles of “nuclear terrorists” and “anti-nuclear warriors,” and enacted a dance duel, Peng said.
Photo: Lu Chun-wei, Taipei Times
Hip-hop dancing featuring basketball-style moves were also on show and the performance ended with victory for the anti-nuclear warriors, he said.
Hip-hop music and dancing is intimately associated with social issues as it began with the breakdance craze in predominantly black neighborhoods of New York in the 1980s, Peng said.
Dancers performed on the streets and negotiated with local governments and the police over the use of public spaces for their dancing sessions, he added.
However, “in the past, hip-hop in Taiwan was almost never associated with social issues. The anti-nuclear march [yesterday] could be the first time,” Peng said.
“What we believe in is peace, love, unity and having fun,” added Peng, who has drawn together hip-hop dancers, musicians, DJs and graffiti artists to form the Hip-Hop Storm performance group, which aims to renew the determined spirit of struggle of the 1990s as well as taking an active interest in social issues.
Peng said he has met some resistance from other some street dancers who said: “You should just focus on dancing. Why join in the [anti-nuclear] march?”
Peng responded by saying: “My stance is different from yours,” adding that he welcomes with open arms all those who wish to participate and learn more about the anti-nuclear campaign.
Aside from the participation of hip-hop dancers, the “P.L.U.R.S. Techno Music Coalition against Nuclear Power” rented a flatbed truck that played techno and other electronic music at the march yesterday as well as setting up party tents at the march’s overnight protest on Ketagalan Bouldevard in Taipei.
The group screened a techno music documentary titled Retake the Streets at the protest last night.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday laid out the Cabinet’s updated policy agenda and recapped the government’s achievements ahead of the one-year anniversary of President William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration. Cho said the government had made progress across a range of areas, including rebuilding Hualien, cracking down on fraud, improving pedestrian safety and promoting economic growth. “I hope the public will not have the impression that the Cabinet only asked the legislature to reconsider a bunch of legal amendments,” Cho said, calling the moves “necessary” to protect constitutional governance and the public’s interest. The Cabinet would work toward achieving its “1+7” plan, he said. The
RSS